If you have trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling that is spreading fast, bleeding you cannot stop or you feel severely unwell, call 112 or go to a hospital emergency department. For pain, an abscess or a broken tooth without those signs, see a dentist quickly or message Dr. Türker Clinic during its opening hours (see the contact page), with photos.
In Istanbul, if you have trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling of the face or neck that is spreading fast, bleeding that does not stop or you feel severely unwell, call 112, Turkey’s national emergency number, or go to a hospital emergency department. For strong pain, an abscess, a broken tooth or swelling without those signs, contact Dr. Türker Clinic by WhatsApp or phone during its opening hours (see the contact page), with photos. If you get no quick reply, see a dentist or an emergency service near where you are staying; no same-day appointment is promised.
This guide helps you find your bearings. It does not diagnose and does not replace an examination. If a sign of immediate emergency appears, do not wait.
Three levels: emergency now, prompt in-person assessment, planned appointment
| Level | Examples | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency now | trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling that is spreading fast, uncontrolled bleeding, feeling severely unwell, a severe allergic reaction, fever with a marked change in your general condition, major trauma | call 112 or go to a hospital emergency department, without waiting for an online reply |
| Prompt in-person assessment | strong or worsening pain, localized swelling, fever, pus or discharge, a bad taste that does not go away, limited mouth opening, a broken tooth, a tooth knocked out, new numbness, an implant or prosthesis that moves | contact the clinic during its opening hours with photos; otherwise a dentist or an emergency service (dental or hospital) near where you are staying; for a tooth knocked out whole, a dentist or emergency service right away, without sending a message first |
| Can wait for a planned appointment | mild, stable discomfort, moderate sensitivity, a crown or filling that has come off when the tooth does not hurt, a hygiene question | message the clinic and book a planned appointment |
The first level is a matter for emergency services or a hospital emergency department, day or night. The second needs an examination in person, and quickly. If you are in doubt, or if things are getting worse, choose the fastest assessment available.
Strong pain already justifies a prompt opinion, but pain alone does not tell you how serious a problem is. What points the way is mainly how fast swelling is spreading, fever, difficulty opening your mouth or swallowing, and your general condition.
Checklist while you wait to be examined
- [ ] check your breathing, swallowing, bleeding and general condition first;
- [ ] call 112 if any major sign is present;
- [ ] note when the symptoms started, how they have changed and your temperature, if you have measured it;
- [ ] take clear photos of the area, without delaying care;
- [ ] list your medications, allergies and medical history;
- [ ] follow only the prescriptions you have been given, and do not restart antibiotics without a prescription;
- [ ] do not put anything caustic on the gum and do not glue a broken piece back;
- [ ] keep prescriptions, reports and invoices.
The most common situations
Abscess and tooth infection: pain and swelling
An abscess is a pocket of pus caused by a bacterial infection, often starting from a tooth or the gum around it. It may show up as pain that keeps growing, swelling of the gum or cheek, fever, a persistent bad taste or a small bump that leaks pus. These signs are not enough for a diagnosis: only an examination and imaging, a panoramic X-ray or a CBCT scan, can point to the tooth responsible.
Do not restart leftover antibiotics without a prescription, and do not change an anticoagulant (blood-thinning) treatment without the advice of the person who prescribed it. Antibiotics do not replace drainage or treatment of the cause when it is needed. Depending on the tooth, that treatment may be a repeat root canal treatment, an apical resection or an extraction. An acute infection is dealt with first, before any planned surgery.
Broken tooth, knocked-out tooth, loose crown or prosthesis
A broken tooth or crown is not usually a life-threatening emergency. Do not chew on that side, keep any fragments and do not glue them back yourself with household glue. A swallowed or inhaled fragment, significant pain or a major blow changes the priority: if you have trouble breathing, call 112.
If a tooth has been knocked out whole after a blow, time matters. See a dentist or an emergency service near you right away, without waiting for a reply from the clinic or going through a message. On the way, hold the tooth by the crown rather than the root, do not scrub it and keep it moist (in milk, for example) rather than in tap water. Once things are under control, our guide to a broken, worn or sensitive tooth: crown, veneer or implant helps you compare repair options.
An inflamed wisdom tooth
A wisdom tooth that has only partly come through can become inflamed: a red, swollen gum, pain, a bad taste and difficulty opening your mouth. This inflammation, called pericoronitis, is treated locally first, sometimes with a prescription, before any decision about extraction. Our guide to impacted wisdom teeth explains when to operate and when to monitor. Dr. Türker Clinic handles impacted-tooth surgery (see below).
Bleeding or pain after a procedure
After an extraction or surgery, follow the written instructions you were given. Heavy bleeding that does not stop despite the measures described, or that comes with weakness, justifies calling emergency services. Sharp pain that returns after improving, swelling that comes back, fever, discharge, a bad taste that does not go away or new numbness of the lip, chin or tongue should be reported promptly to the team that treated you. Always mention any medication that affects clotting.
An implant or prosthesis that moves
A loose implant or prosthesis, a bite that feels different or a new discomfort around an implant justifies a prompt assessment in person. A loose prosthetic screw is not the same thing as an implant that moves in the bone, and only an examination can tell them apart. Do not tighten, re-glue or remove anything yourself.
Tooth extraction: when it is considered
Extraction cannot be undone. With a painful or infected tooth, the surgeon first looks at whether it can be saved, by repeating the root canal treatment or by an apical resection. If it cannot, for example with a fractured root or extensive destruction, extraction is discussed. When the tooth has fully come through and is easy to reach, a simple extraction may be enough; surgery mainly concerns impacted or deeply placed teeth.
In an emergency, the aim is first to relieve the problem and make things safe. Replacing the tooth with an implant, a bridge or another solution is planned afterward, after an examination and 3D imaging.
Dr. Türker Clinic handles impacted-tooth surgery with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Türker Yücesoy, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. For your case, the team can say more after seeing your images: it can say whether the extraction is something the clinic handles and what you would need to add to your file.
Reaching Dr. Türker Clinic: when, how and what to prepare
For a dental emergency in Istanbul, Dr. Türker Clinic is in Nişantaşı / Teşvikiye (Şişli), at Teşvikiye Mah., Valikonağı Cad., Sezai Selek Sk. No:36/1. Consultations are held in Turkish, English and French, and a coordinator arranges translation, airport transfers and a hotel for patients who are traveling.
You can write on WhatsApp or call +90 531 818 02 87. Current opening days and hours are on the contact page of the site. Outside those hours, do not count on an immediate reply, and do not delay urgent care to wait for one. Your health data should only be shared with your consent; send only what is needed for this first opinion.
| What to have ready | Why |
|---|---|
| Clear photos (face, open mouth, the area concerned) | to show how far a swelling or a broken tooth extends |
| Timeline: when it started, how it has changed, measured temperature | to tell stable discomfort from something getting worse |
| Medications, allergies, medical history | for the safety of any procedure or prescription |
| A recent panoramic X-ray or CBCT, if you have one | the clinic plans from 3D imaging and an examination |
| Reports and prescriptions from any care already received | to know what has already been done |
| How long you are staying and the language you prefer | to organize translation and getting around |
On that basis, the team can say whether the images are usable, what is missing from your file and whether an in-person examination is possible, subject to availability. This guidance stays preliminary: a photo does not replace an examination, and the plan and cost become clear after the examination and imaging, in a written quote. No diagnosis or emergency care is provided by message or form.
Before you travel or after you return home
Before you leave, ask in writing for the contact channel, the response time the clinic states and its emergency instructions, and identify a local dentist who could assess an emergency. Our guides to preparing a dental trip to Turkey and to choosing a dental clinic in Istanbul go through these checks.
If you have already gone home, this guide no longer applies: see dental problem after treatment in Turkey: what to do when you are back home.
Limits, alternatives and when to postpone
- This guide points the way; it does not diagnose. Only a clinical examination and, depending on the case, imaging can say what is going on.
- Dr. Türker Clinic is not a hospital emergency department, nor an emergency service open around the clock. A life-threatening emergency is a matter for 112 or a hospital, not for a message.
- No availability is promised: not a same-day appointment, not a reply outside opening hours, not acceptance of every case.
- The alternative to the clinic is a local assessment: a dentist or an emergency service near where you are staying, or a dental school.
- Do not postpone a sign of immediate emergency or a sign that calls for a prompt assessment. If a sign of emergency appears, wherever you are, do not get on a plane to be seen: contact local emergency services first.
- You can postpone mild, stable discomfort, and planned treatment (implants, grafts, cosmetic work), which waits until an acute infection is under control.
- Cost and reimbursement depend on the procedure, your insurance policy and the circumstances, and rules vary by insurer and country: confirm with your insurer. Keep invoices, prescriptions and reports, without assuming they will be reimbursed.
Sources
- NHS (UK): dental abscess
- World Health Organization: antimicrobial resistance fact sheet
Next step
If no sign of immediate emergency is present, send your photos, a description of your symptoms, your list of medications and, if you have one, a panoramic X-ray or CBCT scan to Dr. Türker Clinic on WhatsApp at +90 531 818 02 87. No decision is expected from you at this stage. If your condition gets worse, do not wait: go to an emergency department.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dr. Türker Clinic open 24 hours as an emergency dentist in Istanbul?
No. Dr. Türker Clinic is not an emergency service open around the clock: current opening days and hours are on the contact page, and a reply outside them is not assured. No same-day appointment is promised. If a sign of immediate emergency appears, call 112 or go to a hospital emergency department without waiting.
Which dental symptoms mean I should call 112 instead of seeing a dentist?
Trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling of the face or neck that is spreading fast, uncontrolled bleeding, feeling severely unwell, a severe allergic reaction, or fever with a marked change in your general condition. In these cases do not wait for an online reply: call emergency services or go to a hospital emergency department.
How is a dental abscess treated in Istanbul?
Treatment targets the cause. Depending on the tooth, that may be repeat root canal treatment, an apical resection or an extraction, after an examination and imaging, and an acute infection is dealt with first. Antibiotics do not replace drainage or treatment of the cause when it is needed, and leftover ones should not be restarted without a prescription.
Can I get an emergency tooth extraction in Istanbul?
It depends on the tooth and on the infection. Extraction cannot be undone, so the surgeon first checks whether the tooth can be saved, and an acute infection is dealt with before planned surgery. Dr. Türker Clinic handles impacted-tooth surgery; for your case, the team can say more after seeing your images.
What should I do if I break a tooth while I am in Istanbul?
Avoid chewing on that side, keep any fragments and do not glue them back with household glue. A broken tooth or crown is not usually life-threatening, but a swallowed or inhaled piece, strong pain or a major blow changes the priority. Then ask for a dental opinion.
What if a tooth has been knocked out completely?
Time matters. See a dentist or an emergency service near you right away, without waiting for a reply from the clinic or sending a message first. On the way, hold the tooth by the crown rather than the root, do not scrub it and keep it moist, in milk for example, rather than in tap water.
What should I have ready before I contact the clinic about an urgent problem?
Clear photos, a timeline of your symptoms with any temperature you measured, your medications, allergies and history, and a recent panoramic X-ray or CBCT if you have one. Dr. Türker Clinic's guidance stays preliminary: a photo does not replace an examination, and the plan and cost are set after examination and imaging.
This guide informs; it does not replace a consultation or an individual diagnosis. Every case needs a clinical examination and 3D imaging.
